What’s inside?
BURLINGTON, VT
VTCYNIC.COM
VOL. 133
ISSUE 16
JANUARY 25, 2017
Doctor changes role
Celebs talk Trump
On the future
Phil Scott appoints UVM Medical Center physician as state’s health commissioner
Members of the Hollywood community clash with recently inaugurated President
UVM senior discusses his future, his psyche, politics, being black in Vermont and more
News pg. 3
Arts pg. 6
Life pg. 8
Women’s March
MASSES MARCH TO USHER NEW GLOBAL ERA UVM students march with millions around the world
Students join D.C. crowd Erika B. Lewy Assistant News Editor A contingent of 48 UVM students joined the estimated 470,000 pink-hatted, sign-waving protesters who attended the Women’s March on Washington Saturday. Some students were hours late to the march, watching tightly-packed Metro cars shuttle pink blurs of protesters from the surrounding suburbs into downtown D.C. The concept for the Women’s March began when Hawaiian grandmother Teresa Shook proposed a march on Washington to 40 Facebook friends. By the time Jan. 21 came around, an estimated 4.8 million took to the streets in 673 cities around the world, according to the march’s website. While the planning began on the internet, the march itself stood in direct contrast to the culture of Facebook-based “slacktivism” that characterized the months leading up
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to President Donald Trump’s election. Below gray skies and drizzly weather, speakers praised a brightly-colored crowd for showing up, physically. “You took time out of your busy schedules, piled on buses and trains, slept on floors, and paid your own way because you believe in the fundamental principle that you matter,” said Rhea Suh, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council, to the crowd. “Yes, women matter. And we will not be shy about standing up for what matters to us.” NRDC is an American environmentalist organization that touts a membership of over two million, according to its website. Junior Lindsey McCarron was one a few UVM student activists who helped pile several dozen students into cars and SGA vans. McCarron and other organizers found floors for students to sleep on in Falls
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Montpelier shows up JP Reidel Senior Staff Writer Hundreds of UVM students joined over 15,000 Vermonters rallying in Montpelier in support of human rights and equality. In what became the largest protest in Vermont’s history, thousands gathered on the steps of the statehouse for the Women’s March on Montpelier and Unity Rally Jan. 21, according to VPR. The rally was organized through Rights & Democracy Vermont, a nonprofit organization that works with civil rights and climate change groups in the states of Vermont and New Hampshire. Vermonters of all ages gathered on Montpelier High School’s soccer field for the start of the march, which led MOLLY O’SHEA and OLIVIA BOWMAN/The Vermont Cynic Members of the Women’s Marches in Montpelier and DC included UVM students, alumni and Sen. Bernie Sanders.
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NEWS
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UVM hosts environmental rally Michelle Phillips Staff Writer
Down Main Street drums sounded as students gathered for the UVM Stands Pro-Environment Rally. On Inauguration Day, a new non-partisan environmental club called UVM Stand hosted speakers at the Davis Center flagpole at 10 a.m. Jan. 20 to talk about facing climate change issues over the next four years and beyond. Students and professors concerned about climate change organized the rally in response to the recent presidential election results. “We feel that now, in this moment when the administration does not reflect the values we stand for, it’s the people’s role to stand up and speak for what we believe in,” senior Erica Gilgore, a member of the club, said. State Rep. Ram, a UVM alumna and former SGA president, spoke about including the needs of all people while penning new policies and regulations. Her personal story dealt with aiding California dry cleaners away from using harmful chemicals in their businesses. Because environmentally-friendly cleaning products can be expensive, Ram worked with low-income business owners to make sure they could afford the transition. “It is up to you to join the light at the crossroads,” Ram
said. “Find who is not here, who is left behind and bring their voice to the table.” Provost David Rosowsky said he advised students to be learn about climate change through good discussions about environmental issues while at UVM. “The good hands are yours, so let’s get started,” he said. “Your planet is calling you.” Provost David Rosowsky, Professor Jon Erickson, State Rep. Kesha Ram and State Representative-elect Selene Colburn joined the rally. “This was pretty much my first rally,” first-year Dylan Depalma said. “It’s cool to be around a bunch of people with the same mindset.” In a letter read at the event, Sen. Bernie Sanders promised to “work to defeat policies that move our country backward” and voiced his opposition to
the nomination of Scott Pruitt for EPA administrator. Jon Erickson, professor in the Rubenstein School for Environment and Natural Resources, emphasized the importance of starting climate crisis action at the state and university level. Colburn spoke last and read a letter from Lieutenant Gov. David Zuckerman. Zuckerman called on students to participate in government and interact with their legislators. The rally ended with participants signing a green banner with their names or personal purposes for attending the event in supporting climate action. “I think we should all feel obligated to be here,” sophomore Colby Bosley-Smith said. “Climate change affects all of us.”
PHIL CARRUTHERS/The Vermont Cynic Students and other UVM community members gather outside the Davis Center for the UVM STANDS rally Jan. 20.
Universities fly BLM flags, mirroring UVM Lauren Schnepf Staff Writer When UVM flew the Black Lives Matter flag on campus, the rest of the country noticed, and other colleges began to follow suit. Northwestern University raised a Black Lives Matter flag on Jan. 3 as part of a two-week movement entitled “Black Lives Matter: A Northwestern Dialogue.”
“[The purpose of this program is] to generate important discussion surrounding the statement ‘Black Lives Matter,’ the greater Black Lives Matter movement and the state of black lives within our country,” states the description on the movement’s Facebook page. Northwestern was inspired by UVM’s decision to fly the BLM flag, student organizer Danielle Harris said in a Jan. 4 Washington Times article. “More colleges might be inspired to take the same stance, which would be wonderful. Why not spread the message that everyone is created equally?” first-year Toni Rabasco said. When UVM flew the BLM flag, the purpose was to spread awareness about the importance of the movement, stated Pat Brown, director of student life, in a Jan. 20 email. “Someone had to speak out; we might as well have been first.” Rabasco said The show of support for the BLM movement came at a
time during which the country needed diversity and acceptance to be shown, first-year Kasey Gelfand said. “Our country could really use some diverse thoughts right now,” she said. Other colleges have been flying the flag or passed movements to raise the flag, including Illinois State University and Middlebury College, said Campus Reform articles published on Oct. 18 and Oct. 27. While many UVM students and staff said they feel as though Northwestern’s movement was a step in the right direction, some believe that this could be counterproductive. “If every institution across the country began to remind all their community members that it takes care and work to have all members matter, through curricular and co-curricular programs, and maybe even the flying of a flag,” Brown stated, “then our future becomes less than what we say it should become.”
Photos courtesy of Colin Boyle/The Daily Northwestern and Wikipedia Top: A Black Lives Matter flag flying over Northwestern’s Norris University Center Jan. 3. Bottom: The Norris University Center at Northwestern University is pictured. The flag will fly for a twoweek period.
NEWS
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Washington Continues from A1 Church, Virginia and College Park, Maryland. While many of the UVM marchers found each other on Facebook pages and by word of mouth, McCarron noted the importance of marching in person instead of advocating virtually. “Physically showing up to things is way more important than a nice facebook share [or] a solidarity tweet,” they said. “Physically showing up and taking time to be there is extremely powerful.” Feminist icon Gloria Steinem referenced the role of physical protest in overturning anti-abortion laws in Poland last month. “Six million people turned out in the streets, and they had to change it. We are the people, we have the people power, and we will use it,” Steinem said. “Thank you for understanding that sometimes we must put our bodies where our beliefs are. Sometimes, pressing send is not enough.” For many who attended the march, this was the first time protesting. Three quarters of the UVM marchers were first-time protesters, sophomore Kelsey Aaron said. The march mobilized a greater population than just college-aged women. New Jersey resident Kristi McDonald was one of many activists who organized busloads of protesters to come into the city. McDonald brought 100 protesters between ages 55 and 75 from Somerset County, New Jersey. McDonald said that over 80 percent of the women were marching for their first time Saturday. Protesters with handmade “Nasty Women,” “Pussy Grabs Back,” and “Dear Mr. Trump” signs standing on the National Mall made it clear their message was targeted toward the new president and his admin-
istration. McCarron stressed that the protests, while catalyzed by the election, were not specifically because of it. “[The protest] went far beyond Trump,” they said. “These issues have existed before Trump and will exist after Trump.” Aaron said she hopes the trip to D.C. spurred attendees with a desire to mobilize around various issues across the country. She likened her theory on organizing to a video she saw in Rubenstein professor Trish O’Kane’s class. “[O’Kane] showed us a video of a flock of birds. When a predator shows up, they’ll clump up and condense themselves,” Aaron said. “Donald Trump is trying to attack Muslims, women, immigrants, at-risk groups. No matter who you are, you need to be showing up because it affects you. As a woman-- a queer woman-- my liberation is tied up in Black Lives Matter and Standing Rock. My liberation is tied up in the liberation of all things.” First-year Gillian Natanagara was energized by the ocean of feminine energy, the chants and the young activist speakers, she said. Now that the iconic pink “pussyhats” are folded away, the metro trains are running normally, and a new man sits in the Oval Office, Natanagara said she is weary of a national return to slacktivism. “It’s easy to post on Facebook, yes,” she said. “But for many of us, it was even easy to go to a march. It’s fun. But what do you do after the march, when you put your sign down and hang your boots up?” Back in Burlington after a weekend of sore feet, sleeping bags and cramped, delirious car rides, students expressed the desire to start organizing locally and joining the struggle to become free.
Montpelier Continues from A1 to the steps of the capitol building. Senior Krithika Gnanaguru went to the rally because gender equality will be affected by the new president, she said. “All of us have something to lose if we let half the country be degraded to simply objects,” Gnanaguru said. She said she is marching for feminism, which has not been covered well recently by media outlets, she said. “The media has made feminism out to be something bad that only white females are interested in for their own sake,” Gnanaguru said. “But that’s not what feminism is all about. Feminism is for everyone.” A friend of first-year Yael Dormont’s brought a sign that read “No coat hanger abortions,” and one protester’s reaction to the sign stood out, she said. “There was a woman who looked to be in her 70s,” Dormont said. “She looked at me and said, ‘That’s so true,’ and ‘We can’t go back to that.’” Elise Greaves, field organizer for Rights & Democracy VT, was the first to speak. Greaves urged the crowd to raise their voices for human rights. “We are here today to say that black lives matter,” she said, “that no matter what country you’re born in, what religion you practice, who you love, how you identify, your ability level, or how much money you make, you are valued.”
MOLLY O’SHEA and OLIVIA BOWMAN/The Vermont Cynic Crowds gather in Montpelier, VT and Washington DC in response to the inauguration of Donald Trump on Jan. 21. Following Greaves’ initial speech, several guest speakers approached the podium to share their opinions, including Sen. Bernie Sanders. Sanders said his family was among those in the crowd while his daughter was protesting in Washington D.C. “Mr. Trump we are not going backwards, we are going forward,” he said. “In fact your bigotry, and your ugliness are going to bring us together in a progressive movement.” The number of years it has taken women to fight for their reproductive rights is too many, Sanders said. “2.5 million women, mostly low income, go to planned parenthood for quality healthcare,” he said. “We are not going back.” Among the other speakers in attendance was Meagan Gallagher, CEO of Planned Parenthood of Northern New England. Gallagher lead the crowd in a chant asking “What do we do
when reproductive rights are under attack?” The crowd responded chanting, “We fight back.” Planned Parenthood has seen women wanting to get IUDs now due to a concern over the new presidential administration, she said. This is the biggest fight Planned parenthood has ever faced but it has never been stronger, she said. “Our doors stay open,” Gallagher said. Many crowd members applauded Gallagher with tears after hearing her speech. Local resident Meredith Holch said she was at the rally to protect everything that women’s rights have gained over the last 45 years. “I heard somebody say at the Washington march this morning that Trump took power yesterday, but actually it’s the people who are going to take the power,” Holch said. “One man cannot take the power.”
Gov. appoints UVM doctor to cabinet Kassondra Little Staff Writer Vermont has welcomed back Governor Phil Scott, and with him, his cabinet for the upcoming term of state leadership. Early this month, Scott publicly appointed several individuals for his adminis-
tration, including Dr. Mark Levine, the new commissioner of health. Levine is a practicing physician at the University of Vermont Medical Center, and specializes in Internal Medicine. In addition to providing primary care for adults, Levine is a professor at the Robert Larner College of Medicine
and the associate dean for graduate medical education. Levine said he has always felt strongly about combining medical care, public health, population health and health policy, making this appointment a fitting next step in his career. In March, he will begin addressing his focal points; decreasing the cost of chronic
disease, combatting the opioid epidemic, and improving mental health services. Levine is excited to join the passionate and devoted department, composed of individuals who all support the “Healthy Vermonters living in healthy communities” vision, he said.
Photo courtesy of UVM College of Medicine Dr. Mark Levine pictured.
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OPINION
Women stand for the true America Staff Editorial
EXECUTIVE Editor-in-Chief Kelsey Neubauer editorinchief@vtcynic.com Managing Editor Bryan O’Keefe newsroom@vtcynic.com Assistant Managing Editor Mariel Wamsley newsroomassistant@ vtcynic.com OPERATIONS Operations Mangager Ryan Thornton operations@vtcynic.com Advertising Manager Cole Wangsness ads@vtcynic.com EDITORIAL Arts Ben Elfland arts@vtcynic.com B-Side Maggie Richardson bside@vtcynic.com Copy Chief Lindsay Freed copy@vtcynic.com Enterprise Pablo Murphy-Torres enterprise@vtcynic.com Layout Kira Bellis layout@vtcynic.com Life Greta Bjornson life@vtcynic.com News Olivia Bowman news@vtcynic.com Opinion Sydney Liss-Abraham opinion@vtcynic.com Photo Phil Carruthers photo@vtcynic.com Sports Eribert Volaj sports@vtcynic.com Video Molly O’Shea video@vtcynic.com Web Dean Wertz web@vtcynic.com Assistant Editors Ariana Arden (Opinion), Bridget Higdon (Arts), Locria Courtright (Sports), Erika B. Lewy (News), Lily Keats (Layout), Karolyn Moore (Copy), Michelle Phillips (News), Izzy Siedman (Life) Page Designers Ed Taylor Copy Editors Brandon Arcari, Hunter Colvin, Rae Gould, Adrianna Grinder, Linnea Johnson, Robert Kinoy, Kira Nemeth, George Seibold, Meline Thebarge ADVISING Faculty Adviser Chris Evans crevans@uvm.edu
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alf a million people gathered in our nation’s capitol. There was no service on the blocks they occupied. It was Jan. 21 — a day that will be remembered in history as the day people came together, both physically and metaphorically, to march for humanity, in all its diversity and intersectionality. They came from far and wide to march for the same rights the founding fathers fought for, the same rights suffragettes chained themselves to fences for, the same rights civil rights activists were killed for, the rights that the European immigrant travelled across an ocean for. The right to the American dream. The highways leading from Vermont to Washington D.C. before the march arch illustrate America. Once the highway reached the Maryland border with Washington, cars with license plates representing states near and far clustered in traffic. Inside, Americans of all genders, races, classes, religions and nationalities looked on excitedly at the traffic, unphased by the delay. It was not only a day, but the beginning of a moment. A moment of solidarity in the fight for equality for all. It was the most intersectional feminist march yet. One UVM student said that one person’s liberation is tied up in the liberation of all. This is the truth that makes up the American dream’s foundation. America’s literary history has been shown a deep fascination with the American Dream. Americans over the past years have contemplated whether this American Dream is possible for them because of the identities they hold. Ta Nehisi-Coates, author of “Between the World and Me,” wrote of the American Dream as an ideal that held more oppression than it did liberation. Nehisi-Coates moved to Paris, and said he had never felt more American then he did there, away from America.
ALYSSA HANDELMAN There was also a woman from New York, who voted for Donald Trump, because she felt that the dream had passed her by. She was not poor enough to qualify for aid, and not wealthy enough to pay for it without working overtime each week. She said she felt heard by Trump, that she felt validated by him. She felt that the system worked. There was a transgender person, who felt dehumanized because they
could not use the bathroom of the gender they identified with. Each American has a different story on how the roadblocks to the reality of the American dream. These differences in our stories don’t negate our truth of a common American identity. These stories are the American identity. These stories, and the rights that are put in place to help tell them, lead us to a more perfect union, and
inspire action. When multiple truths exists together in the millions, the American dream is one person closer to a reality. With all its greatness, the march also had its flaws. There is a video of a woman expressing how she had been kicked out of the march because she was found to be a Trump supporter. She is 13. The reality was that she came to walk with her sisters, but was denied that right because she differed in political alignment. A large group of Americans are isolated, and denied the unity that makes us whole, we cannot achieve the dream so many have died for. We call on the student body to strive for truth: a more inclusive and accepting story. We call on those to be humble enough to listen and not to accept that they know more than their peers. We call on all to listen to each truth even when those disagree, to validate their struggle. We also call on every person to be brave enough to express their truth, and kind enough to understand how to do so without hurting others. We call on the students to embrace the beginning of this moment in history as a time to serve those who walk beside you, not by acting or speaking for them, but by listening to them and validating their experiences. This is the moment of truth. In this moment, when we stand peacefully somewhere between our differences to understand the truth of the identity we all share:being American. Staff editorials officially reflect the views of the Vermont Cynic. Signed opinion pieces and columns do not necessarily do so. The Cynic accepts letters in response to anything you see printed as well as any issues of interest in the community. Please limit letters to 350 words. The Cynic reserves the right to edit letters for length and grammar. Please send letters to opinion@vtcynic.com.
Realistic repercussions of leaving the UN Guest Commentary
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Nick Vidal
et’s clear a few things up here. The United Nations isn’t an obstacle to American “sovereignty.” The idea that the United States would somehow be more powerful or independent were it to relinquish its commitments to the UN is misguided, frightening, and deeply problematic. Not only does it ignore the fundamental role of the UN as a peacekeeping institution but it encourages a train of logic that could jeopardize the relative peace the world has enjoyed over the past half
century. Since 1945, the UN has stood as the physical embodiment of international diplomacy, helping to mediate conflicts and encourage peaceful cooperation between great powers while providing a platform for all world leaders to voice the prerogatives of their respective nations. The potential decision of the United States to leave the United Nations would accomplish little beyond galvanizing world opinion against the US, empowering rival states, and ultimately weakening America’s influence abroad. Granted, this bill is unlikely
to pass. Senator Rogers has either proposed or supported similar legislation at least three times over the past ten years and frankly, isolationist factions have remained stubbornly present in American government since the nation’s founding. However, the fact that such action would even be plausible over the next four years given the president’s isolationist rhetoric, skepticism towards NATO, and his generally questionable foreign policy acumen is what truly shakes me to my core. The UN, much like NATO, does not constitute a threat to
American sovereignty. It seeks and serves to protect it. Threatening to leave the UN isn’t “America First,” it’s diplomatic suicide. Relinquishing the the UN’s constraints on American sovereignty would simply empower others to do the same. We cannot allow the emergence of a multipolar world to weaken our commitment to international law, diplomacy, and peaceful cooperation between powers. If we do, then God help us. Nick VIdal is a junior Political Science and Russian double major.
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OPINION
The Affordable Care Act: a moral obligation Gaetano Martello
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ith the new Trump administration settling in, there has been a lot of talk about what is first on the agenda. The consensus seems to be that the plan is, first and foremost, to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (I refuse to call it Obamacare, as it was a nickname given to it by its opponents in order to disparage it and doesn’t give a chance for people to view it in a fair light). President Trump has clashed with Republicans on plenty of issues during his campaign, but this is one goal that he and the Republican-controlled Congress are likely to accomplish without much discord. It is difficult for me to be non-partisan on this issue, and it is not because of my political stances. I am a registered independent, and I am not known for holding far-left stances on most issues. As someone who is not rich and who has had some troubled circumstances that the Affordable Care Act has helped to ease, I take this issue personally. As someone who would not have health insurance without the Affordable Care Act, I have a duty to advocate for its exigency. Without it, I would have had to resort to receiving care under my parents’ plan, but my father died of a terminal illness when I was 15. He didn’t have health insurance of his own and I was kicked out of my mother’s house the next year. Fortunately I do not have a terminal illness, but if I did and former President Obama
GENEVIEVE WINN
never worked to get this law passed, it’s not likely that I would have received care and, as a result, even less likely that I would have survived the ailment. This is what the opponents of the Affordable Care Act seem to overlook: it achieved universal health care. Under the previous model, you either needed to be covered under someone else’s health care if they had a plan that allowed for it, or you needed health care benefits from your job. But the latter wasn’t always the case with people who worked at lower-level jobs and didn’t live with their parents. In other words, if your life didn’t go perfectly and your circumstances didn’t follow the expected familial and oc-
cupational norm, it was more difficult or downright impossible for you to have insurance. Obama, for all his faults, wanted to do everything he could to get rid of this problem and was opposed by the other side on all fronts. To his credit, he was successful. As stated, I personally benefited from this, and there are also documented cases of people who were less fortunate than I and did, in fact, have illnesses that were treated or cured with the Affordable Care Act. One of these cases was testified to Speaker Paul Ryan recently at a CNN open hall, to which Ryan gave an answer that I found unsatisfactory. As he picked apart what was wrong with the Affordable Care Act and didn’t emphasize
what it had accomplished, he also failed to outline exactly what the replacement for the law would be if it were to be repealed. I find this irresponsible. If Trump and the Republican Congress want to repeal the Affordable Care Act, they have a moral responsibility to lay out every detail about what the replacement would be. This is the only responsible thing to do if they must oppose what is perhaps Obama’s most important accomplishment on principle. The fact that the only answer we seem to be able to get out of Trump is that it is going to be replaced with something “tremebdzous” his most recent press conference says to me that they are not ready with a plan to replace it the same day
that they repeal the ACA. This means that there is a possibility that they will repeal the ACA and take months or possibly years to come up with its replacement, and during this time there will be a significant number of Americans who will not have health care. To do this so abruptly would be opportunistic and, frankly, despicable. I understand that there will be some who respond to my above point by saying that I don’t give Trump or Congress enough credit, to which I say: the Republican members of Congress have ranted incessantly about repealing this law since before it was passed. That being said, if those in power do not have the moral sensibility to have a replacement for the ACA that is better than the law they are trying to repeal, they should either wait until they do have a replacement to repeal the ACA or they should not repeal and replace it at all. Rather, they should improve on the ACA by finding solutions to its problems, such as the rising premiums (which could be solved by getting more people on the plan). This is not something that American leadership can mess up on, as there are life-ordeath consequences they are dealing with in the immediate future, and there is no room for Trump’s self-aggrandizement and attention grabbing at the expense of middle class and poor people’s health.
Gaetano Martello is a political science major. He has been writing for the Cynic since 2015.
Adjusting the attitude toward liberal arts education
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Alexander Collingsworth
’ve learned a few things in college. I’ve gotten pretty good at executing turns on my bicycle with no hands. I’m definitely better at taking shots. I was already pretty good at rolling doobies. My joints are pretty terrific. The best, really. Tremendous. Just beautiful. I’m taking a drawing class right now that’s proving challenging. My first sketch was of a girl’s face in profile. The picture looked like some sort of demented bird. Hopefully I will get better at it. Going into it I was not thrilled about having to fulfill the fine arts requirement. But I think this will be one of the most valuable classes I will have taken at UVM. I’m learning something completely new, something I didn’t think I would enjoy or be interested in. I think that’s what college is for; it’s not just to learn theories and memorize facts, but to learn about yourself. I think the sad truth about college is it teaches you how to
be mediocre. I got pretty good grades last semester, but in at least in a couple of my classes I did the absolute bare minimum that I had to in order to pull off an A. That’s a piss poor mentality to have: how many beers can I drink Thursday night and still show up for class? Maybe I’m just speaking for myself here. Our generation is pretty jaded when it comes to learning things. Increasingly, people treat education as a mere credential necessary to getting a job; get a good grade and get out. I see this in the attitudes of my fellow students who could not look more grim and bored in class, whose teeth must be pulled in order to get them to answer a teacher’s question. Why are they here, then? It’s because they have to be. Good luck getting a job even with a college degree. It seems like more and more college students are turning to majors that funnel into a specific profession or career like nursing, engineering, communications or business, while the number of English, history and other hu-
LILY KEATS manities majors has dwindled. About 8 percent of graduates in 1970 majored in English. That was down to 3 percent in 2011, according to a “Planet Money” episode on NPR about the changing demographics of college majors over the past 40 years. This makes sense, though. I think the Great Recession has left us particularly anxious about the future, and students prioritize getting a good job even if that means settling for
a career they are not excited about. About 20 percent of U.S. graduates in 2011 were business majors. Majoring in business seems like a good idea. You learn practical skills like accounting; you learn about finance and marketing; you are molded into a good candidate for the job market, complete with a flashy resume and networking know-how. My business major roommate constantly reminds me
that majoring in both English and history will leave me unemployed after I graduate. But a Sept. 11, 2016 Wall Street Journal article titled “Good News for Liberal Arts Majors…” contends that majoring in English or in any of the liberal arts may actually pay off in the long run. Although your pay may be lower after graduation compared to someone who majored in business with a concentration in finance, the pay gap shrinks over time. In the end, liberal arts majors may end up making more than their business major counterparts. Furthermore, majoring in the liberal arts gives you a foundation of writing, research and critical thinking skills that allow you to pursue careers in many different fields or get advanced degrees. But education should be about more than just making money. Shouldn’t it? Or is pursuing intellectual curiosity an exercise in self-indulgence? Alexander Collingsworth is an English and History double major. He has been writing for the Cynic since 2016.
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ARTS
Art community reacts to inaguration The Perspective Healy Fallon & Bridget Higdon
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s a progressive force in society that provides introspection, enjoyment, and connection, art is constantly changing with history. More importantly, art is an unrestricted commentary on both the victories and losses of our times. In the case of today’s political climate, the art world has a lot to say, and the majority of it is not nice. Donald Trump’s recent election has received a volatile response from all corners of the creative world. Many visual artists, musicians and actors have been publicly resistant to supporting a man who they feel may only push America backward and harm their freedom of expression. Singer-songwriter John Legend eloquently summed up the attitudes of many of his peers in a Dec. 13 BBC article. “Creative people tend to reject bigotry and hate,” Legend said. “When we see someone [who is] preaching bigotry and hate and division, it’s unlikely that [Trump] will get a lot of people who want to be associated with him.” As Trump’s inauguration ominously loomed over the minds of many Americans, artists have bluntly expressed their views about performing during the ceremony. “I would never do it,” singer-songwriter Zara Larsson stated in the same Dec. 13 BBC article, when asked if she would perform at the inauguration. On the day of the inauguration, over 130 artists, curators and critics decided to support an art strike, The Atlantic stated in a Jan. 18 article. Museums, galleries, theaters and concert halls were asked to be closed for the day of Jan. 20 as an act of “non-compliance.” “It is not a strike against art, theater or any other cultural form,” the #J20 Art Strike website says, “but a tactic among others to combat the normalization of Trumpism.” Artists are also uniting in defiance through The Nasty Women Art Exhibition that began in New York City on Jan. 12. The idea was thought up by artists Roxanne Jackson and Jessamyn Fiore, according to a Time magazine article. “This show is about female-identifying artists coming together against the Trump regime,” Jackson stated in a Huffington Post article published Nov. 17, 2016. All proceeds from sales at the exhibit went to Planned Parenthood, the article said. Shepard Fairey, who was the artist behind Barack Obama’s famous HOPE poster from his 2008 campaign, is also using his art to comment on the current political situation, said a Time magazine article from Jan. 18. Fairey’s current work, which looks similar to his famous poster, is a set of screen
Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia Left: President Donald Trump pictured. Right: Meryl Streep pictured.
prints that features portraits of the “shared humanity of our diverse America,” said Time. The prints show individuals of different races, ethnicities, and religions. Not only are musicians and visual artists finding ways to protest the current political scene, but artists of the stage and screen are making their voices heard as well. Actress Meryl Streep recently caused a stir when she spoke about Trump’s bully-like behavior in her acceptance speech at the Golden Globes on Jan. 8. “Maybe he’ll just have to sing something himself,” singer and actress Idina Menzel quipped in a Dec. 15 interview with Vanity Fair regarding Trump’s struggles to secure a performer for the inauguration ceremony. “He probably
thinks he has a great voice; he thinks he does everything great.” Additionally, the cast of “Hamilton” had a message for Vice President Mike Pence when he attended the show Nov. 18, 2016. “We, sir are the diverse America who are alarmed and anxious that your new administration will not protect us,” “Hamilton” actor Vince Dixon said. “We truly hope that this show has inspired you to work on behalf of all of us.” Trump has reacted to many of these situations with little respect for artists -- calling them out on Twitter in short, often aggressive, statements. Rapper Kanye West has controversially gone against the established views of many of his fellow artists through
his vocal support of Trump, expressed both on Twitter and onstage at a Nov. 17, 2016 concert, according to The Washington Post. The same source also reported a meeting between West and Trump at Trump Tower Dec. 13, 2016. West tweeted afterward that he had met with Trump to discuss “multicultural issues,” and added that “it is important to have a direct line of communication with our president if we truly want change.” No matter his or her beliefs, the artist’s right to self-expression, in both their art and their words, is protected under the First Amendment. The language of prejudice, exclusion and hatred that cluttered this past election cycle
goes against the very purpose of art and creative forces in America. Visual art, theater, literature and music are meant for the eyes, ears and enjoyment of all -- no matter race, gender or sexuality -- so a government that works only for a select few will not be accepted by many in the creative community. Art, which transcends through time with force and intention, is viewed and valued by so many -- making it the perfect platform for protest and self-expression in times of immense turmoil.
Healy Fallon and Bridget Higdon are first year English majors who have been writing for the Cynic since Fall 2016.
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ARTS
New Fleming show explores drinking Healy Fallon Staff Writer Across cultures, drinking is universally known to be an act of self-care for the body, as well as for personal and social enjoyment. Yet by observing the definition of drinking from a curatorial perspective, a bigger social and cultural discussion is revealed. An exhibit at the Fleming Museum intends to present such a dialogue. It presents a cross-cultural approach to the idea of drinking by presenting different types of drinking vessels from various parts of the globe. From red-solo cups to English teapots to Indian coffee sets, the objects reveal a spectrum of consumption, and the traditions, rules, and hierarchies associated with each distinct cultural setting, according to a press release from the museum. “It’s about how drinking does reinforce social status and rules; we want people to think about their own culture in the process”, said Margaret Tamulonis, the curator for the exhibit and a collections manager at the Fleming. Tamulonis discussed the varying social experiences that come with different vessels, environments, and types of drinks, such as coffee, tea, or alcohol, that paint a bigger picture of what drinking means in a socio-cultural context. “We’ve realized over the course of putting together the show that so much of drinking is tied to conversation” Tamulonis said. Several pieces in the show, such as a Samoan kava bowl, are representative of Oceanic cultures where, she said, people would sit down and shoot the breeze over a drink. The show also includes other artifacts, like documents, articles and poetry meant to demonstrate the health benefits and drawbacks of water and alcohol, such as contamination and intoxication. Social control related to drinking in society is also addressed in the collection, specifically with the temperance movement of the 19th century. From an aesthetic and historical point of view, the show will broaden the observer’s knowledge of various styles of pottery from various areas of the world, such as South Africa and Russia. “Having taken prehistoric archaeology last year, I’m super interested to look at different types of pottery from different cultures,” first-year Anthony Julian said. “Imbibe: Drinking in Culture”, located in the Woolcott Gallery, will run from Jan. 24 to May 21.
ELISE MITCHELL
The return of the musical Review
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Colin Kamphuis
t’s rare today for a major Hollywood film to be a musical, although this was a popular genre in the 1930s and 1940s. “La La Land” bucks this trend by recreating a movie the likes of which hasn’t graced the silver screen in 70 years. “La La Land” is a modern musical in the style of Hollywood classics from a bygone era. It features Seb (Ryan Gosling), an aspiring pianist who struggles to reconcile his love of jazz with a world that has forgotten it. Mia (Emma Stone) is a struggling actress who has never had a successful audition. After a series of serendipitous encounters, the two encourage each other to follow their dreams despite their failures. Eventually the two fall in love, their chemistry driving the film. The film is beautifully scored and directed, with wonderful performances from Gosling and Stone. The two do all their own singing and dancing, and Gosling even learned to play piano for the role. “La La Land” was a clear standout for 2016, perhaps even for the last decade considering no other popular movie has captured past Hollywood grandeur so well.
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Colin Kamphius is a senior political science major who has been writing for the Cynic since Fall 2015. ANNONCE UNIVERSITÉ DE MONTRÉAL
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LIFE
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On graduate school and racism in VT The Black Man’s Guide to the Psyche Drew Cooper
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hat could happen in a day? So I got into graduate school. On Jan. 20th, UVM’s College of Medicine accepted me into their rigorous accelerated master’s program in pharmacology; the dream for a burgeoning drug nerd such as myself. After months of pulling my hair out literally and figuratively, hoping something would materialize from the innumerable essay revisions and frantic emails to professors asking for their academic blessings, my efforts were finally rewarded. I get to study what I love and get paid for it, and I’m incredibly fucking scared. There are a lot of reasons why I’m scared to start my masters. The most glaringly obvious for a young biracial man such as myself is that I’m going to be in the United States for 365 days longer than planned. In the months preceding the oh so “great” presidency of The Donald (I refuse to say the words “President Trump”) I made efforts to apply to schools in Germany. The day that fascist little clementine was inaugurated was the same day my Fulbright was rejected; a bitter 24 hours, to say the least. My eyes darting between my computer screen and my bedroom view of the Davis Center I ruminated on what another year might bring. 2016 was exemplified for me by acknowledgment of
deep-seated depression and anxiety, the slow metaphorical death of a bitter relationship, and the oh so cruel literal death of my close friend, Andrew Godaire. What could go wrong this year? Or day, is what I should really be asking. I started my Sunday by fending off a hangover from a particularly volatile night at What Ale’s You (I’m talking to you, blackout fratholes), segued to a Facebook argument with my aunt because white feminism can’t play nice with black pride, and finished with calling friends and police to prevent a potential suicide. Three years ago I would have curled into the fetal position if presented with these circumstances; my anxiety was bad enough to induce vomiting before a Ruggles chemistry exam, let alone helping a friend in crisis. The depression would have kept me in bed for damn near a week, my body listlessly rising only to eat and compulsively check social media. Days like that make me feel like I really have changed. But I’m still scared. I’m scared when large white guys say they want to smash my skull in. I’m scared when my own family invalidates my experience of being black in America. I’m scared drugs, death and depression can’t seem to escape the lives of the people I love most. And most of all I’m scared to fail – exams, classes, drug tests (jk I’m cleaner by the day). But when I face that fear the world unfolds in front of me like a flower greeting the sun on a beautiful spring day.
Photo Illustration by Drew Cooper I’ve survived being kidnapped, physical and verbal abuse, addiction, casual and overt racism, and I’ve almost survived college.
The sun will rise in the morning, and I will survive that day too. This is The Black Man’s Guide to the Psyche.
Drew Cooper is an integrated biological sceine Major and is currently pursuing his masters of Science in pharmacology. He has been writing for the Cynic since Spring 2017.
Broad City gets real for a young generation From the Life Editor
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Greta Bjornson
t’s rare that a television show comes along that so thoroughly embodies the voice and experience of a generation. Yet, Comedy Central’s “Broad City” does just that. The show’s creators and lead characters, Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer, lead comfortingly uncertain—and wonderfully comedic—lives. That is, neither has a steady job, both live in shared and cramped apartments with roommates and the two women have sexual experiences varying from awkward to hilarious. Essentially, the show’s importance lies in its ability to personify and realistically portray the life of a modern twenty-something, despite coating it with a thick layer of humor. The show’s topics are a large component of why the show is so relatable; I struggle to identify another show that destigmatizes the discussion of female anatomy and men-
MICHAELA PAUL
struation to such an extent. From the second episode of the first season, entitled “Pu$$y Weed,”in which Ilana proclaims “the vagina is natures pocket” and proceeds to
store marijuana there, to the season three finale when Abbi unexpectedly gets her period, forcing Ilana to improvise by creating a tampon out of a piece of pita bread, there’s no
skirting the subject. Although it is a comedy, the effect of each episode is much deeper than simply producing laughs. Aside from its relatability
and inherent female positivity, “Broad City” also hits an even more personal note. As a studio art major seeing Abbi’s post-grad experience as a cleaner at an upscale fitness club, I can’t help but wonder if my own life after UVM will be similar to hers, not that I would mind if I could have a bestfriend like Ilana. Abbi said, “I’m gonna be like, a successful artist any day now,” a quote that’s all too true for most art students. “Broad City” captures all of the ups and downs of the life of a millennial, doing so in a way that makes us laugh, but also reflect and realize the humor in situations. Although neither seems to have her life quite together, both women make the most of their crazy lives and are an example of the unapologetic, modern and eccentric lifestyles we should all aspire to lead after leaving college.
Greta Bjornson is a Studio Art and English Major. She is Life editor and has been writing for the Cynic since Spring 2016.
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LIFE
Millennials nostalgic for trends of the past Isabella Alessandrini Staff Writer Millennials — people born in the late-1980s to mid1990s — are often deemed future-oriented and current event-obsessed. But the same group is also suffering from a serious case of nostalgia, and it appears to be chronic. The side effects can be seen in wardrobes, music playlists and Netflix queues, and they don’t appear to be going away anytime soon. With a close look, styles from the ’70s to the ’90s can be seen on many students all over campus every day. Those bellbottoms, Penny Lane faux fur coats and circular mirrored sunglasses were all snagged from the ’70s, not to mention the beloved Birkenstocks. The ’80s have come back to the future in the form of denim jackets, off-the-shoulder tops, athleisure and scrunchies. Perhaps most fondly remembered of all, however, is the style of the ’90s. Chokers, flannels, Doc Martens, dark lipstick and normcore are absolutely everywhere. As for the early 2000s— well, hopefully the days of Juicy Couture tracksuits and chunky zebra-stripe highlights can be left behind. VHS tapes may have been
traded in for online streaming, but Millennials still want to binge-watch things from before the days of Netflix. Entertainment companies have been catering to this sentimental side by creating revival shows like “Fuller House,” “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life” and a new series of “Twin Peaks.” Pixar Studios has recently blessed us with highly-anticipated flashbacks to childhood such as “Monsters University,” “Finding Dory” and soon, “The Incredibles 2.” What’s more, period shows like “Mad Men,” “The Get Down” and “Stranger Things” have also had major success with the college crowd, making some yearn for a time they weren’t even alive for. Many are even gaming returning to simplicity in gaming, as evidenced this past April with the debut of the app Pokémon Go, a game with characters from the ’90s that quickly went viral. Revamped turntables and vinyl records allow for listening of the newest releases in the old-fashioned way. Those who miss drinking the milk left behind at the bottom of a bowl of sugary cereal can head to eateries like Momofuku Milk Bar and Kellogg’s Café, which both base their menus around it with options like cereal milk ice cream. The explanation for all
these so-called new products is that companies have noticed an affinity for the old and are using nostalgia marketing as a strategy to keep consumers spending. “I know it’s a marketing scam,” sophomore Rebecca Grant said, “but I’ll still buy [products that invoke nostalgia] anyway.” Associate psychology professor Keith Burt believes that the simplicity and comfort of childhood can explain the affinity for the past. “An increased uncertainty about the wider world, the economy, safety and well-being might lead to an extension of nostalgia to trends that predate one’s birth,” he said. Money may not be able to buy happiness, but it can buy the warm and fuzzies. The obsession with the old can’t be all that bad. In fact, a 2008 study from researchers at the University of Southampton, University of Missouri and North Dakota State University found that nostalgia has generally positive effects, including an increased self-esteem as well as social connectedness. So whether nostalgia-driven products are used as coping mechanisms to deal with troubled times or simply as fashion statements, they seem to be worth incorporating into the modern millennial’s budget. ISABELLA ALESSANDRINI
Good places to get caffeinated Chris’ Critique
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Chris Leow
hether you’re looking to finish an essay, catch up with an old friend or just enjoy a warm beverage in the bitter cold, Burlington offers many options for a coffee shop getaway. Here are a few of my favorites: Muddy Waters This is the place to go to for great conversations and first dates. The coffee isn’t the best, but the atmosphere more than makes up for that. There are lots of non-coffee drinks like smoothies, freshpressed juices and teas. “Muddies” also has great bagels and baked goods. The distinct treehouse vibe entices relaxation and encourages focusing on the homework assignment you’re engaging with. Uncommon Grounds Uncommon Grounds is the polar opposite of Muddy Waters: fantastic coffee, but a busy and cramped atmosphere. The shape of the shop and the proximity of the tables to the serving counter make it hard to focus or have a long conversation. However, Uncommon Grounds serves some of the best coffee in Burlington, which is roasted in the front of the store. They source and roast their coffees very carefully, and it shows. The windows
KIRA BELLIS up front are perfect for Church Street people watching, but you’ll probably want to take things to go. Maglianero Cafe The most modern and hip cafe in Burlington serves great coffee and specialty drinks in a bright art gallery atmosphere. Its maple latte is perfectly sweet and comes with pretty latte art on top. The separate small reading room is made from an old vault and is probably the coolest study spot in Burlington. Maglianero is close to
the waterfront and perfect for taking coffee to go for a stroll by the lake. These are only a few of the options Burlington has to offer, and they each have their own appeal and loyal following. Next time you have a lazy day or a deadline looming, take a trip downtown to find your perfect coffee spot. Chris Leow is a junior medical laboratory science major. He has been writing for the Cynic since fall 2015.
Living Well offers solace Kate Vesley Staff Writer Words of inclusion echoed through the Davis Center’s Burak Lounge Friday morning at the Pre-Inauguration Loving Kindness Meditation. The ceremony was hosted by Engage Mindfulness, a Living Well program. Coordinator Lindsay Foreman reached out to students, faculty and residents of Burlington to build courage and compassion after President Trump’s inauguration. “This practice that we’re doing is a way to position our hearts… [and] to work towards justice,” Foreman said. Many people attending the practice felt anxious or apprehensive about what was to come in the next four years. “I’m afraid for two generations of civil rights and social fabric being torn apart and what that means to have to try to put that all back together again,” Marsha Camp, a member of the student accessibility office, said. Living Well marketing coordinator Jennifer Archambault hoped rejection of violence and racism was conveyed during the practice. During the meditation, each volunteer read a phrase that followed the format of “May ___ be safe and cared for. May ___ live in peace with ease and dignity.” This was then followed by the sound of a bell so people
could contemplate their feelings about each new identity filled in the blank. This thirty-minute practice helped people feel united, according to attendees like fourth year graduate student Hannah Holbrook, who felt “more centered” after the event. “I’m feeling happy and grateful to have this community here at the school and in this group from doing the meditation together,” Holbrook said. During the event, Foreman recognized that even those who are causing harm are connected to us. “We’re focusing on cultivating … love, and not just in the place that it’s easy,” she said. The practice, according to Foreman, was supposed to cultivate love towards all beings on earth, no exceptions. The theme of unity resonated with senior James Biddle, an attendee and meditative facilitator of Engage Mindfulness. He mentioned that he felt optimistic after seeing people join together during this time. “I hope [this practice] brings a sense that you aren’t alone and that we’re all experiencing similar feelings, but that there is a way to find inner strength and foster inner peace in times when things feel turbulent.”
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SPORTS
Women’s hockey fall two times on home ice Locria Courtright Assistant Sports Editor Women’s hockey failed to earn a point over a weekend for just the second time all season. The No. 6 Boston College Eagles came to Gutterson Fieldhouse to face off against the Catamounts Jan. 20 and Jan. 21, leaving with a pair of victories. The Eagles remain the only Hockey East school that Catamounts head coach Jim Plumer has not defeated. Friday’s game saw the Catamounts strike first. Junior forward MacKenzie MacNeil came out of the corner with the puck, and sent a pass into the slot for junior defenseman Amanda Drobot. Drobot fired past Boston College goaltender Katie Burt for her first goal of the season. Vermont doubled the lead midway through a penalty-filled second, as fourteen infractions were called between the two sides. Burt made a save off of senior forward Victoria Andreakos, but the rebound deflected off of a BC player and past Burt to give UVM a 2-0 lead. The Eagles would rally, starting just over a minute later. A shot from Megan Keller missed the net, and a stuff attempt was unsuccessful. However, Makenna Newkirk buried the rebound past sophomore goaltender Melissa Black to cut the lead in half.
The tying goal came in the last minute of play. Keller took a shot from the top of the right-hand circle, beating a heavily screened Black to tie it up at two and send the game to overtime. Newkirk would score the winning goal in the first minute of overtime, banking a rebound in off the pad of Black. Black made 38 saves in the 3-2 overtime defeat, tying a season high set on Oct. 10 against Boston University. The two teams rematched on Saturday afternoon, and after a scoreless first, BC poured it on with three in the second. On the power play, Andie Anastos set up Newkirk from behind the net for her third of the weekend to put the Eagles up 1-0. They would double their lead just 67 seconds later on a two-on-one, as Kali Flanagan beat senior goaltender Madison Litchfield off a pass from Caitrin Lonergan. The Eagles would grab a second power play goal about three minutes later, as Flanagan’s point shot was deflected past Litchfield by Delaney Belinskas. The third period would be a scoreless one, as the Eagles held on for the 3-0 win. Litchfield made 29 saves for the Cats on Saturday. Katie Burt stopped seven on Friday and 20 on Saturday, as she set a BC record for career wins
PHIL CARRUTHERS/The Vermont Cynic (top) First-year forward Ali O’Leary rushes down the ice. (right) Sophomore forward Alyssa Gorecki tries to score from behind the goal against Boston College Jan. 20. The Catamounts would end up losing 3-2 in overtime. with her 81st. Vermont falls to 10-9-7 (65-5 Hockey East) and travels to Storrs, Conn. next weekend to play the University of Connecticut.
UVM alumnus drafted for pro-soccer Locria Courtright Assistant Sports Editor For the first time in 70 years, a UVM student-athlete was drafted in the first round of a professional sports league draft. Men’s soccer forward Brian Wright was drafted 20th overall in the Major League Soccer SuperDraft Jan. 13 by the New England Revolution. The last Catamount to be taken in the first round of a professional sports league draft was in 1947, when Larry Killick was drafted 10th overall in the Basketball Association of America draft by the Baltimore Bullets. Killick never played in the league, which is now known as the NBA. Wright, who was named a National Soccer Coaches Association of America Second Team All-American Dec. 9, led the Catamounts in scoring all four years he played. In his senior season, he posted 14 goals and 40 points, the latter of which is a single-season school record. In an interview with the Revolution’s website, Wright described the feelings of being drafted as “surreal,” and welcomed the chance to stay in New England. “Vermont’s become my home the last four years,” he said. “So the fact that I’m still in New England is a great feeling.” Revolution head coach Jay
Photo courtesy of Kirby Lee from USA TODAY Sports Brian Wright speaks after getting drafted the New England Revolution Jan. 13. Wright is the first UVM student-athlete to be drafted in the first round a professional sports league draft in 70 years. Heaps said that he was pleasantly surprised that Wright was still on the board, and believes he will fit in nicely with the team’s veterans. “We like him because he’s a big, strong kid, he can hold the ball up, he’s fast enough to get in behind defenses, but he also creates,” Heaps said. “You want goal scorers, but you also want forwards that can bring other players into the attack.” Wright said he is excited for the opportunity to learn from and compete with the Revo-
lution’s current forward corps, which includes Sierra Leone national Kei Kamara, who tied for first in MLS goal-scoring in 2015, as well as Juan Agudelo, who is currently at the U.S. national team camp. “I’m definitely looking to go in and learn what I can from the veterans,” Wright said. He will be joining the Revolution for preseason, which begins Jan. 23 in Foxboro. The team will take two trips to Casa Grande and Tucson,
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SPORTS
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Swimming team keeps going strong Zach Falls Staff Writer The women’s swimming and diving team triumphantly returned to Burlington Jan. 8 to a warm greeting from friends, family and school officials. Each year, the program makes the 1,639 mile trip to Islamorada, Florida. The team’s training consists of swimming twice a day with a “dry land” workout in between according to McClure. “Our practices are conditioning,” senior Sarah Mantz said. The team swims each practice for roughly two hours, Mantz said. The women’s swimming and diving team was traveling from Fort Lauderdale to Baltimore Jan. 6 to face University of Maryland Baltimore County and Howard University when an active shooter began to open fire at approximately 1 p.m., according to a CNBC news article. The team safely evaded the shooting at Fort Lauderdale International Airport, but the story of their experience that day nonetheless brought attention to the program. While public attention has been brought to the team’s story of escaping the Jan. 6
Photo Courtesy of UVM Athletics Left to right: Senior Ali McClure, junior Kelly Lennon and senior Sarah Mantz are pictured. shooting, these women have been competing at a high level all winter; a level that hasn’t been seen for quite some time for this program. “We are happy with how things have gone so far,” junior swimmer Kelly Lennon said. The hard work these athletes have put in the pool has turned into results, as the women hold a 6-1 record to date. “We’ve seen people drop times all season,” senior captain Ali McClure said.
Led by a strong upper class, with some notable swims by Lennon, and senior Courtney Gray, the team is getting ready for Conference Championships early next month. “We have strong upperclassmen,” head coach Gerry Cournoyer said. “I’m very thrilled with where we are at as a team.” The preparation is intense, and often involves spending countless hours swimming and analyzing past meets. “We take every meet and
look at the good and the bad,” McClure said. Team chemistry has been a focus this season, with both coaches and swimmers attributing the program’s success to the comradery within the group. “We have maintained a team mentality, so the support has been there for each other,” Cournoyer said. “We encourage positivity,” Mantz said. Mantz and McClure said credit should also be given
to the outstanding first-year class with regards to the team’s overall record. “The underclassmen have shown great energy,” Mantz said. First-year swimmers Sophia Smith and Morgan Montgomery are among the notable underclassmen this season according to the coaching staff. With their last meet against the University of Rhode Island resulting in their sixth win, the Catamounts are ready to make a statement in the Conference Champions Feb. 9. Since 2012, the team has placed third in the conference each year according to UVM athletics. With a 6-1 record, the team expects great results Feb. 9. “We are setting our sights high for champs,” Lennon said. “The energy has been good.” The program has never finished top two in the conference, but the team is confident that this year could be different. “We are going to have some great swims. If we do our best, that is what counts,” Mantz said, with regards to the upcoming Championships. The conference championships are held in Worcester, Massachusetts Feb. 9 to Feb. 12.
Catamount star proves to be valuable on the court Zach Falls Staff Writer
OLIVER POMAZI/The Vermont Cynic Redshirt senior forward Darren Payen tries to create space against UMass Lowell Jan. 19. The Catamounts would go on to win 81-67.
Men’s basketball currently sits at the top of the America East standings with a conference record of 6-0. With the team currently riding an eight game winning streak, senior forward Darren Payen has been in the midst of a nice streak himself. The Milford, Connecticut native posted 17 points in a win over Siena, and followed that performance with an 18 point game in against Harvard, and a 21 point game against Hartford. Growing up, Payen wasn’t primarily a basketball player. “I actually was a baseball player, but focused more on basketball once I got to about the eighth grade,” Payen said. After high school, Payen was recruited by UVM, but elected to attend Hofstra University. “I had my thoughts about UVM from when I was recruited out of high school,” Payen said. “When I realized that Hofstra wasn’t a good fit, I thought back to the coaches at UVM, and the experience I had the first time I visited, and now I’m here.” Due to NCAA transfer rules that state that undergraduate transfers must redshirt a season, Payen had to redshirt his junior year. Now, as a redshirt senior, he is poised to graduate in May with a degree in Psychology.
As for his basketball career, Payen has shown that he is a forced to be reckoned with this season as he continued hard to keep improving his game. “I wanted to be more consistent,” said Payen. “After the game against Siena, I didn’t want to settle and sit back. I wanted to continue to get better.” His teammates have seen this determination and drive from day one, attributing the team’s success to his character and determination. “His consistent personality is huge,” junior guard Trae Bell-Haynes said. “He never takes reps off or days off. For the younger guys, seeing the consistency he brings is important.” Freshman guard Ben Shungu added that he sees Payen as a mentor and noted his presence. “His presence changes our attitude,” Shungu said. “He’s a really big threat on the court.”
As a redshirt junior last season, Payen started most games for the Catamounts. But with the tremendous depth, and standout performance by first-year Anthony Lamb, Payen has moved to a primary contributor off the bench. This has proven to be a lethal part of the team’s attack. “He’s proved that he can start, but also embodies team first mentality,” Bell-Haynes said. As the team rolls deep into conference play, Payen made it clear that the team’s experience is going to help keep this win streak alive. “Things aren’t always going to go our way,” Payen said. “Having that experience is huge. We are able to stay composed and respond to any type of adversity.” Payen and the Catamounts look to improve upon their hot start, as they travel to Albany on Jan 25.
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SPORTS
NFL relocations continue UVM Scoreboard
Visit vtcynic.com for more coverage and uvmathletics.com for schedules, tickets, score updates and additional information
Views from the Fairway
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LAST WEEK
John Suozzo
he National Football League has a serious relocation problem. Three teams have filed for relocation in the last two years, leaving many loyal fan bases without a team to root for in the coming seasons. The St. Louis Rams were uprooted from Missouri to the ‘more attractive’ location of Los Angeles by their billionaire owner Stan Kroenke, who is in the process of building a new, state of the art stadium for the team in Los Angeles, which is set to open in 2019. The San Diego Chargers officially announced a move to Los Angeles on January 12, leaving the city they called home since 1961 for a more attractive location to hours to the north. The Chargers are expected to move into the new Rams stadium when it is completed in 2019 as the building’s second tenant. In the two seasons until the new stadium in Inglewood is built, the Chargers will take up a temporary residence in the StubHub Center in Los Angeles, which is the current home to the Los Angeles Galaxy of Major League Soccer. The main problem with the StubHub Center is its lack of seating, where it is expected
W to hold only 30,000 fans on game day, which is less than half of what most NFL stadiums can seat at capacity. By comparison, the Los Angeles Rams play their home games at the 80,000-seat Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, while their new stadium is under construction. Additionally, the Oakland Raiders, one of the most marketable and recognizable franchises in the league, filed the official paperwork with the league office to move the team from the Bay Area to Las Vegas. For the move to be official, 24 of the NFL’s 32 owners need to ratify the move at the next owners’ meetings, according to NBC Sports. The abundance of relocation within the NFL is bad for the league, because it has removed teams from their original fanbases. These teams have legacies in their former locations, as the Raiders won three Super Bowls in their time in California, and the Rams won a Super Bowl in 1999 during their time in St. Louis. The San Diego Chargers did not have as much success
KIRA BELLIS on the field as these other two franchises, but they had built a considerable fanbase in their 56 years in Southern California. The recent rash of relocations within the NFL speaks to the greed of the ownership groups of teams throughout the league. Many of these teams tried to renegotiate deals to stay in their original cities, but were unable to. These teams were playing in outdated stadiums, and were unable to reach deals with their cities in order to fund new stadiums. This opens the door for relocation, as cities without an NFL team are more apt to pay to funds and undergo public funding in order to entice a team to come to their city. The NFL is a business at its core, and the recent wave of franchise relocations shows the fans that their interests are secondary when compared to the financial interests of the owners. John Suozzo is a junior History and Political Science major who has been writing for the Cynic since 2015.
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81-67
Men’s Basketball vs UMass Lowell
Men’s Ice Hockey vs UConn
Home Jan. 19
L
5-4
Home Jan. 20
W
2-3
Women’s Ice Hockey vs Boston College
155-145
Women’s Swimming vs Rhode Island
Home Jan. 20
Home Jan. 21
THIS WEEK
• Men’s Basketball at Albany Albany, NY on Jan. 25 at 7p.m.
• Men’s Ice Hockey AT UConn Home on Jan. 27 at 7p.m.
• Women’s Ice Hockey at Connecticut
Storrs, CT on Jan. 27 at 7p.m. & Jan. 28 at 2p.m.
• Women’s Basketball vs Stony Brook Home on Jan. 28 at 2p.m.
RECORDS
Men’s Basketball 16-5 Men’s Hockey 16-7-2 Women’s Basketball 5-13
Women’s Hockey 10-9-7 Women’s Swimming and Diving 6-1
Soccer: the financial implications of the world sport The Soccer Report
C
Eribert Volaj
helsea forward Diego Costa is setting an example for the rest of his colleagues. The Spanish international was the latest target of the incredibly rich Chinese Super League, but it seems that he has made the decision to stay and fight for the Premier League title in England. Chelsea is atop of the English Premier League table with 55 points; eight more than their London rival Arsenal in second place. Diego Costa is having his best season in a Chelsea jersey, as he leads the goalscoring charts with 15 goals after 20 games. Only Paris Saint Germain’s Edinson Cavani (20 goals), Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (16) and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (16) have more goals than Costa in the European top leagues. So when Tianjin Quanjian of the Chinese Super League came knocking with an offer, it wasn’t much of a surprise. The numbers reported, however, turned heads around the world. According to various reports in England, including BBC and Mirror, Quanjian offered approximately 130 million pounds for the 28-year old forward, as well as a 21 million pounds per year salary
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LILY KEATS for Costa himself. If these numbers are true and the transfer were to be completed, Costa would at once become the most expensive player in history, as well as the most paid player in the world. Rumors increased when Diego Costa was left off the team for Chelsea’s game against last year’s Premier League winners Leicester City. However, the forward returned to the starting lineup in the next game, even getting in the score sheet in Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Hull City. It looks like, for now, Costa
will stay at Chelsea and fight for the Premier League title. This comes as good news for European football, with the trend of quality players moving to a low quality Chinese league becoming more apparent than ever. While Costa did indeed reject this offer, plenty of players chose money instead of the top teams in Europe. Costa’s former teammate at Chelsea, Oscar, is the latest example of this, as he completed a 60 million pound deal to Shanghai SIPG. Alex Teixeira, Axel Witsel, and Nemanja Gudelj are other players who
could be starters in some of the best teams in Europe, but chose to play their soccer in China. While the owners of these Chinese clubs were not planning on stopping their big spending any time soon, the Chinese Football Association took matters into their own hands. The Chinese FA introduced a new rule that states that clubs cannot have more than five foreign players, and they can only field three of them at the same time. At the moment, all 16 clubs in the league have at least
three foreign players, with 10 of them having already filled all five positions. Recently, money has all but taken over the beautiful game, with the recent FIFA scandals serving as proof of that. However, it is refreshing to see that for every Alex Teixeira, there’s a Diego Costa, who’s willing to sacrifice the extra money in order to play his soccer in the biggest stage.
Eribert Volaj is a junior Businees Administration major who has been writing for the Cynic since 2015.